Letter To The Editor: Henry Turner And The Rittenhouse Case

NEWTON, MA — The following letter to the editor was submitted by the Newton School Committee.

Dear Newton Community,

We are responding to the online media attention, including a recent article in the Patch, surrounding an email message sent by Principal Henry Turner to Newton North faculty and staff in the aftermath of the verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse case. These emails and posts acknowledged the decision, its impact on members of our community, and the role of race in the public discussion of the trial. Principal Turner, like the principals at our five other secondary schools, provided resources for faculty and encouraged discussion with students who wished to process the event. Like the Atlanta spa murders and the murder of George Floyd, this verdict had great significance for many members of our NPS community and generated extensive public discourse. We believe it is incumbent upon NPS staff and leaders to be prepared to help students and faculty navigate their thoughts and feelings about the decision and provide space for discussion for those students who want to engage.

Principal Turner’s communication with the Newton North staff, as well as his social media messages, were consistent with the Statement of Values and Commitment to Equity and the work NPS has taken on as a district. His statements, reflective of his personal and professional experience, were very similar to messages sent by other NPS leaders over the past several years when these types of national events have occured. We know that students experience events differently and it is the district’s responsibility to recognize the impact and detrimental effects for community members, especially those who are traditionally marginalized, such as people of color. We support NPS school leaders’ acknowledgement of the need for students to learn more about the context of the case and to provide space for them to process and discuss it.

As a School Committee, we remain committed to supporting NPS staff by providing them with the resources to hold these challenging conversations with students. We commend Principal Turner and all of our secondary school principals for recognizing this need and providing the necessary support to staff and students in the wake of the verdict. It is a powerful example of how we embrace our district values and achieve our goals.

The Newton School Committee
Mayor Ruthanne Fuller
Bridget Ray Canada, Ward 1
Margaret Albright, Ward 2
Anping Shen, Ward 3
Tamika Olszewski, Ward 4
Emily Prenner, Ward 5
Ruth Goldman, Ward 6
Kathy Shields, Ward 7
Mathew Miller, Ward 8